Use Of Drones In Urban
Construction

Ms. Mattea Jacobs,
Freelance Writer & Green Activist, Los Angeles

The popularity of drones has skyrocketed in the recent years,
and so has the market for them. From taking photos and videos
for personal use, to their scientific applications and uses in
many spheres of life and business, their importance and utilization are
constantly growing.
Although many may be familiar with them simply due to their fun
and recreational purposes, drones, above all, have very important and
practical uses in different industries. One of them is home construction,
where drones have significantly contributed to the industry’s efficiency
and general development.Construction vs. Technology
When it comes to the construction industry, it has generally
been one that is somewhat averse to technology and technological
advancements. It is an industry that relies mostly on traditional, manual
labour and heavy machinery, and does not always welcome change very
easily. Moreover, it is one of the least digitized and technologically
advanced areas, which can often reflect on its productivity.
Fortunately, construction has also begun opening its doors to new
technology – slowly but surely. With BIM, smart devices and gadgets, 3D
modeling and now drones, it is welcoming change into its very core, and
becoming a part of the digital revolution. We no longer have to talk about
construction vs. technology, but about construction and technology.

The popularity of drones has skyrocketed in the recent years,
and so has the market for them. From taking photos and videos
for personal use, to their scientific applications and uses in
many spheres of life and business, their importance and utilization are
constantly growing.
Although many may be familiar with them simply due to their fun
and recreational purposes, drones, above all, have very important and
practical uses in different industries. One of them is home construction,
where drones have significantly contributed to the industry’s efficiency
and general development.Construction vs. Technology
When it comes to the construction industry, it has generally
been one that is somewhat averse to technology and technological
advancements. It is an industry that relies mostly on traditional, manual
labour and heavy machinery, and does not always welcome change very
easily. Moreover, it is one of the least digitized and technologically
advanced areas, which can often reflect on its productivity.
Fortunately, construction has also begun opening its doors to new
technology – slowly but surely. With BIM, smart devices and gadgets, 3D
modeling and now drones, it is welcoming change into its very core, and
becoming a part of the digital revolution. We no longer have to talk about
construction vs. technology, but about construction and technology.

Ms. Mattea Jacobs
Freelance Writer & Green Activist,
Los Angeles.

Drones, specifically, have the potential to integrate various
aspects of the project, simplify it, connect people from different
parts of the country who are working on it together, improve the
gathering of information, and provide better insight and overview
of the project.Saving Time and Money
To keep the project successful and on track, it is important to always
have all the necessary data on the site and the building at hand. The
traditional methods of surveying, research, and data collection would
usually take a lot of time – days or even weeks. And making sure that
every minor change in the site or the data is updated and recorded is
another part of that strenuous task.
Drones can change all of it and revolutionize the way a site is
researched and monitored. They can collect all the necessary data
and information in a matter of minutes and update it regularly. They
input the data into the BIM (building information modeling), a project
management software, and keep you updated at all times. This can save
the industry significant amounts of money by decreasing the time spent
researching and the amount of labour that is put in.New and Improved Inspection
Using drones for inspection purposes can also help stay on top
of your projects, as well as save you a lot of time and money. One of
the greatest advantages of drones is that they show you data in real
time, so you can act on time. This can help in avoiding unnecessary
and costly mistakes or making changes to your plans, and all without
wasting time, money or labour.
With drones, the risk of your project going off-track is much smaller
and allows you to make some crucial decisions or changes before it’s
too late, or before the project has advanced too far. Apart from that,
you can also inspect the aesthetics of the building, receive the images
and see how they compare to the blueprints and the model.

Presenting the Project’s Progress
Many clients and homeowners like to stay informed and keep track
of how their house is coming along. That is not always convenient for
the architects, the construction company, and the workers, nor for the
clients themselves. It would usually involve making trips to the jobsite,
which can be time-consuming or showing photos to the clients, which
is not a real enough representation of the progress.
This is another aspect where drones help significantly to keep
clients well-informed and involved in the project. They allow the
architects to show the live progress of the project, present it from all
angles and give a better and innovative overview of it to the clients.
And clients can then express their (dis)satisfaction, which can be
addressed in time.Improving Safety
Construction is known to be one of the most hazardous fields. Many
injuries and even deaths occur precisely at constructions worksites, and
it has many safety risks. One of the great and very important benefits of
the use of drones is also improving this factor and decreasing safety risks.
Inspecting roofs, locations or areas that are hard or too dangerous
to reach, working on heights, and similar hazardous tasks can all be done
with the help of a drone. This way, accidents,and injuries can be prevented
and significantly reduced, making this field of work much safer.Conclusion
Applying new technologies, such as using drones in your
construction work, can benefit both you and your clients in great
proportions. Technology is shaping and changing our world, so why
shouldn’t you be a part of it as well.
Drones can not only save time and money on your project, but they
can also provide better results and more successful projects. They are
an innovation with many applications and benefits and are surely on
their way to become the standard of the industry.

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